Hey, Sexy Laaday! I don't know if that song is popular back
at home, but it for sure is here. Then again, so is Pusong Bato, which I know
for a fact isn't famous state side. So whatevs.
Ok, I have everything written out here. So I'll hop straight
to work!!
It's been a wonderful, wonderful week! Me and Elder Bruno
Mars, oh psych, I mean Elder Judar have been killing it out here! Absolutely
slaying it! But that is kind of a recent development. The whole week wasn't
that way. But you'll find out about that later. We'll get there. But the whole
week has been happy and exciting and full of killer missionary work. Full of a
delicious tiredness that can only come from spreading the gospel until you
can't walk anymore. And even then, you're ok because you can just ride one of
the many cows. And the comment about Bruno Mars is because my comp sings his
songs very well. Sometimes I forget that he is my comp and not actually a
famous non-member singer.
So thing to be noted first. This week was wonderful! But it
was challenging as well. We got punted almost all week. It was insane!! Monday
was P-day, after which we had two FHE appointments. The last one canceled on
us. Tuesday we didn't get in a single lesson. We walked for 6 hours straight
without getting in anywhere or sitting down or stopping for longer than it
takes to call out to someone and get turned away. It was ridiculous. Wednesday
was much the same. One or two appointments. The rest of the week was like that
until Friday when we had 3 appointments. Then came the success. Saturday, we
were bombed with appointments! Almost every single person let us in!! It was
wonderful! And then Sunday we had a lot of success too! It was wonderful! Needless
to say, we had a rough week that turned out to be a very good week all in the
end. And surprisingly, we stayed happy all through getting punted. We do well
together as a companionship. It's hard to get our spirits down. Ha, or
siguro impossible. We just enjoy being happy and when you're doing the Lord's
work....it's easy to be happy. So we are! I truly think the success of the last
few days came as a blessing from the Lord. It would have been easy to say,
"man, we've been walking in the heat all day every day with no success.
Let's take it easy today. Let's only plan a few appointments. Let's go out
late. Let's come home early." But because we pushed it hard, through the
heat, through the whole day, planning full days, the Lord blessed us for our efforts.
We had our faith tried a little bit. Ha, a slight bit. Just to see how faithful
we were willing to be perhaps. But when we hold out faithful and do as the Lord
asks us to do, we will receive the promised blessings. I know that is
true.
There were a lot of wonderful experiences through this week.
I almost don't know where to start. The first day, the day we never got into a
single appointment. Our area is huge. It's gigantic!! And we have so many
people. Usually, we will take one or two barangays (kind of like neighborhoods)
and teach there. But that day, we did about 5. The distance was crazy!! By the
end of the day, we were completely beat. But we knew we needed to keep our
hustle on and get to one last person. On the way, we were so dead tired. Almost
to the point where we really just didn't want to walk anymore. It would have
been nice to take a rest. But we kept walking. Right then, a tricycle driver
pulled up and asked us if we wanted a ride. We said walang pera. He said,
"Ok lang, walang bayad!" So even though we couldn't pay him, he'd
give us a ride. So we got on. He was a nice guy. Potential investigator. And he
came right at the very best time, once again, AFTER the trial of faith. A
blessing straight from the Lord.
We found tons of LA's and past or new Investigators this
week. Things just worked. People called out to us and we decided to talk to
them. I'm not the best at just talking to new people and bringing up the
gospel. It's a bit tough and for me, can be awkward. But it's a goal of mine to
always talk to people that call out to us. There is often a reason that they
are prompted to say something to the kids in white shirts. Often, they are just
ready for the gospel. So that went well for us this week. We probably had that
happen about 6 or 7 times. Wonderful!!
We have a less active, I think I mentioned last week. He is
an endowed member. Sealed with his family. Super active back then. But now, as
with most members in the Philippines, he's inactive. But we've been meeting
with him and things have been going very well. He has problems that he needs to
overcome. But he's open about them and willing to change. He has a desire to
change. It's wonderful! He's been to church 2 weeks in a row! The ward has been
shocked because he hasn't been in years. There have been efforts made to bring
him back. But nothing has worked. This is why you can't give up on people.
Ever!! Everyone has to be prepared by the Lord to accept the gospel. They will
have experiences that will soften their hearts. And then, they are ready. Even
if they don't know they are ready. So sometimes it's the investigator that the
missionaries dropped. Sometimes it's the less active that no one wants to visit
anymore. Maybe it's the family member that hasn't been active for years and has
numerous problems. Maybe that next door neighbor. Who knows!? Share the gospel!
You never know when they are ready. Do them and yourself a favor, overcome your
fears or selfishness for your own time and share with them.
We have an investigator that will be baptized Dec. 1st!!!!
Woohooooooo!!! I'm so excited! This is only my second baptism!! The others
either haven't happened or I've been transferred first! She is
ready!! It is soo awesome to see people change and come to the gospel!! There is
nothing better!!
Yesterday after church we did splits. The plan for both the
families I visited was to watch a movie, either the Joseph Smith movie or
Finding Faith in Christ. Both times, we couldn't watch the movie for one reason
or another and so I had to improvise. In both cases, I really had no idea what
to teach. A quick silent prayer and opening the scriptures is all you need.
Even opening the scriptures didn't give me what I needed. But a question popped
into mind. And then, from the question and the answer, and a lot of help from
the Holy Ghost, I knew what it was I needed to teach. Both lessons went very
well. And it happened several other times this week as well. I can truly
testify that the promise of the Lord will be fulfilled if we do our part. Moses
6 I think says open your mouth and it will be filled. Somewhere in D&C says
it will be given to you in the very moment. When we prepare and stay worthy and
obedient, the Lord will uphold His end of the deal.
Ah, that's pretty much all I have had this week. It's been
an exciting week!! In addition, last night we found a dinosaur mosquito, which
was big enough to eat me and Elder Judar comfortably in the same meal. Elder
Molnar and I tracked it down and destroyed it! "Do unto others, before
they do unto you". Also, today I ran into my good friend Elder Broadhead.
I miss that kid to death. It was a good time.
As far as pics go. I told you last week the cows are
everywhere. I also have said you need to teach everyone. So, I tried my hand at
introducing the gospel to a few cows. Unfortunately, they weren't very
receptive. There is also a pic of our house. Sadly, it is dark and raining and
therefore, hard to see. But it is nice. We live on the 3rd floor. Yes, balcony
folks. Nice view. And then a pic of Elder Judar after a good days work. But
never fear, it's a delicious kind of tired!! And finally, a pic of the demon
mosquito. Should have been on the crocodile hunter show. We felt pretty good
after taking it down. Success.
Well, that's all for this week!! Thank you all for
everything you do! I love you all! Enjoy the snow for me! Mainit!!!!
Much love,
Elder Christensen
No comments:
Post a Comment